Highlights
- WWE has announced NXT Battleground will take place at the UFC Apex on June 9, 2024.
- The Apex is a venue UFC used during the pandemic and continues to use for Fight Nights.
- This is the first time WWE and UFC have teamed up since the TKO merger last year.
WWE has already mapped out a big chunk of the year when it comes to premium live events, already confirming it will travel back to the UK for Clash at the Castle in June, and to Germany for Bash In Berlin at the end of August. Now it is mapping out its NXT schedule too and the company’s third brand will also be playing host to a unique PLE. NXT Battleground will be taking place at the UFC Apex on June 9, an event that will mark the first significant crossover between the two brands since the TKO merger.
NXT Battleground At The Apex
The announcement that Battleground will be heading to the Apex was made official on Monday following rumblings that WWE might have been planning on doing something unique for the show. UFC’s Apex is in Las Vegas and was effectively the MMA promotion’s equivalent to WWE’s ThunderDome during the pandemic. A place where shows could take place without fans in attendance, it has continued to be used for Fight Night events since.
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Also like WWE towards the end of the pandemic, UFC’s Apex can host some fans, but no more than around 500 people. That means Battleground will have very limited ticket availability if any at all. WWE hasn’t yet revealed if Battleground will be an event fans will be able to buy tickets for, or if there will be no one in attendance. The setup will presumably need to be different than it is when hosting UFC events which might mean there’s even less room for potential fans.
WWE And UFC Working Together
One of the reasons WWE might want to host an event at the Apex is so it can use the entire area and not just the ring. While little-to-no fans in attendance will take away from the event in some ways, having it somewhere like the Apex opens up a lot of other opportunities. The goal will likely be to give this particular event a more real feel, and potentially even make it a more violent affair. If Ilja Dragunov is on the card, you can rest assured he will be keen to push the boundaries in a variety of ways.
There has always been an unofficial link between WWE and UFC with the likes of Ronda Rousey, Brock Lesnar, CM Punk, and more competing in both companies. However, as of last year, the two promotions are officially bound. Both residing under the same TKO umbrella following 2023’s merger, Battleground at the UFC Apex on June 9 will likely be the first of many ways we see the synergy between the two companies showcased.
